Museums and Institutions

The National Maritime Museum and National Museums Northern Ireland claim the bidding process in the sale of more than 5500 artefacts from the wreck of the doomed Titanic prevented them from submitting a formal offer.

A rare 17th century Chinese silver ewer has been acquired by the Palace of Versailles in a private treaty sale conducted by the auction firm Beaussant Lefèvre. It is the only known surviving piece of silverware from a lavish diplomatic gift presented to Louis XIV by the King of Siam (Thailand) in 1686.

A large 19th century panorama of London, completed towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, has entered the Museum of London’s permanent collection after the institution acquired it at a recent Sotheby’s auction.

As the top auctions and fairs take their summer break there are still opportunities to view stand-out art and antiques at museums and galleries across the country. Here Hannah Stokes selects seven from London to Edinburgh.

Dreweatts 1759, Mallett and SALON, the project space at Saatchi Gallery, have teamed up to stage an exhibition of the paintings of British artist Berenice Sydney (1944-83), her first major UK show in 30 years.

A painting of a game of bowls by John Singer Sargent previously in the collection of the late A Alfred Taubman has sold to the National Trust’s Ightham Mote, the manor house in Kent depicted in the picture.